Topic: Royalties

CNN's Jake Tapper reported on Donald Trump's 2025 financial disclosure, noting his income rose to $2.2 billion. The report detailed earnings from Trump-branded watches, Bibles, sneakers, and fragrances, as well as legal settlements from Twitter, Meta, and ABC. Critics argue these profits are unprecedented for a sitting president and present multiple conflicts of interest.

Nick Fuentes recently highlighted the influence of John Mappin, a Scientologist and heir to a jewelry fortune tied to the British Crown Jewels. Mappin is allegedly a key figure connecting American conservative figures like Candace Owens and Charlie Kirk to British "nexus" interests. The hosts conclude with an analysis of the British monarchy's enduring global influence and their perceived disregard for the "plebs."

Zaniyah Monet becomes the first AI-generated artist to land on a Billboard radio chart with the song "How Was I Supposed to Know." The record deal, reportedly worth $3 million, has sparked backlash from advocacy groups like United Musicians and Allied Workers over the lack of AI protections for human creators. While a human poet named Talisha Nikki Jones reportedly prompts the AI, the music industry is viewed as using the project as a trial balloon for future automated content.

Spotify reportedly deleted 75 million songs from its catalog to prevent AI-generated tracks from diluting royalties for major publishing companies. The hosts discuss the "shakeout" in the podcast and music industries as advertisers become wary of being "fleeced" by AI-generated content. They predict a return to human-centric content as users grow tired of navigating through AI-generated news and music.

Health officials report a spike in whooping cough cases, attributing the rise to a lack of population exposure during pandemic lockdowns. In the Netherlands, Ozempic is reportedly being marketed through rumors that the Dutch princesses are using the drug for weight loss. The hosts discuss the potential for future mRNA treatments for various common ailments.

The discussion centers on how multi-million dollar book advances serve as a form of "money laundering" for public officials and Supreme Court justices. Because book royalties are not capped like other outside income, publishers can effectively pay off officials for past favors or future influence. The hosts claim that many of these books do not sell enough copies to justify the advances, suggesting that "friendly groups" buy them in bulk to facilitate the transfer of wealth.

Spotify has reportedly found a legal loophole by bundling audiobooks with its music streaming service. By reclassifying itself as a "bundle" provider, the company is able to pay music artists 25% less in royalties. This strategic move has led to a bump in Spotify's stock price as its content acquisition costs decrease at the expense of creators.

The hosts discussed a new children's book project being developed by a producer, which aims to teach values and the alphabet with a "No Agenda" twist. The book is expected to be 33 pages long and will generate royalties for the show. Additionally, the hosts admitted to being "hoaxed" by a producer regarding a false claim about the next leap year occurring in 2033.

Dr. Anthony Fauci appeared on ABC's "This Week" to recommend the new booster for vulnerable populations while acknowledging a "very, very, very low risk" of myocarditis in young men. Fauci claimed the risk of myocarditis from the virus itself is greater than from the vaccine. The discussion questions why the retired official remains a frequent media presence, suggesting he continues to benefit from pharmaceutical royalties.

A discussion regarding the music industry touched on the personal lives of artists like Grace Slick and Roger McGuinn. The hosts explored the opaque nature of ASCAP and BMI royalty payments, noting that even legendary performers often face difficulty tracking their earnings from streaming and airplay.

Senator Rand Paul's questioning of Dr. Anthony Fauci regarding $193 million in secret royalty payments to 1,800 NIH employees is reviewed. Fauci cites the Bayh-Dole Act as the reason these payments are not disclosed on financial statements. The hosts argue this represents a massive conflict of interest and regulatory capture by the pharmaceutical industry.

FOIA requests have revealed that National Institutes of Health (NIH) executives, including Dr. Anthony Fauci, receive undisclosed royalty payments from pharmaceutical companies for products they helped co-invent. While the specific amounts are redacted, the payments represent a potential conflict of interest given the billions in taxpayer funding provided to these companies.

Spotify recently removed several comedy albums from its platform following a dispute over spoken-word performance rights. Comedians are seeking royalties similar to those paid to songwriters through organizations like ASCAP and BMI. Since "No Agenda" is categorized as a comedy podcast, the hosts speculate on whether they are owed back-pay from major streaming platforms.

The complexities of the music business are explored, specifically how session musicians and performers often receive no royalties from radio play compared to writers and publishers. Digital streaming platforms like Spotify have introduced new "carve-outs" for performers, but the resulting payment structures remain a confusing "quagmire" for most artists. The discussion touches on the high costs of licensing music for commercial advertising versus standard performance rights.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. explains how government scientists at the NIH and HHS can own portions of vaccine patents and collect royalties up to $150,000 per year. Dr. Anthony Fauci is noted to have his name on numerous patents, raising questions about conflicts of interest.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. claims the FDA receives 75% of its budget from the pharmaceutical industry and that the CDC functions as a vaccine distributor. He alleges that high-level officials within HHS collect up to $150,000 a year in royalties from patents on vaccines like Gardasil. The hosts characterize these regulatory bodies as "appendages to the industry."

Spotify and Pandora's aggressive move into the podcasting space is analyzed as a necessity driven by the lack of profit in music streaming due to high royalty costs. By owning original podcast content, these platforms hope to increase revenue without paying external rights holders. The segment also touches on the pitfalls of video podcasting and the sustainability of creators on platforms like YouTube.

The implementation of the EU Copyright Directive is expected to mirror the "blanket license" model used by Performing Rights Organizations (PROs) like ASCAP and BMI. These organizations collect revenue from businesses and broadcasters to distribute to artists. The new laws are viewed as a mechanism for European rights groups to extract revenue from American tech giants like Google and Facebook.

Artists like Jean-Michel Jarre and Cyndi Lauper are advocating for stricter copyright enforcement to recover lost revenue. The complexities of pre-1974 recording copyrights and the limitations of current royalty systems are explored. A technical solution involving blockchain and AI is proposed as a more efficient way to track and compensate creators.

Tony Cabrera, manager of the No Agenda Shop, has implemented a new fixed royalty system to simplify the profit split between the show and contributing artists. Instead of a complex 33% net profit calculation, the show and the artist will now each receive a flat $3.33 per item sold. This change is intended to reduce the administrative burden of tracking various item sizes and shipping regions.